Hooters Of America Inc

AIRLINES * A group headed by the owner of the Hooters restaurant chain offered to buy some of the assets of Vanguard Airlines Inc. Hooters Air, led by Hooters of America Inc. owner and Chairman Robert H. Brooks, hopes to establish a new commercial airline based in Kansas City, Mo.

A former Hooters restaurant general manager was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for secretly videotaping job applicants changing. Juan Martin Aponte, 32, of Arcadia had pleaded no contest to five felony charges for which he faced 19 years in prison. Police seized Aponte's office computer and found 180 digital recordings of women undressing as they sought jobs at a future restaurant, authorities said.

A controversial restaurant chain that features chicken wings and scantily clad waitresses is set to open its first Orange County location on Balboa Peninsula this week. Atlanta-based Hooters of America Inc., which has 138 Hooters restaurants in 37 states, said it plans to open five additional restaurants in Orange County in the next two years. But it's the moniker, not the menu, that has given Hooters its checkered reputation.

Former Hooters restaurant manager Juan Martin Aponte pleaded no contest Monday to five felony charges that he surreptitiously videotaped job applicants as they changed into waitress costumes. Aponte, who was fired, is expected to be sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea bargain. Police seized Aponte's office computer in February and found 180 digital recordings of women undressing as they sought jobs at a new restaurant in West Covina, authorities said.

A controversial restaurant chain that features chicken wings and scantily clad waitresses is set to open its first Orange County location on the Newport Beach Peninsula this week. Atlanta-based Hooters of America Inc., which has 138 Hooters restaurants in 37 states, said it plans to open five additional restaurants in Orange County in the next two years. But it's the moniker, not the menu, that has given Hooters its checkered reputation.

The restaurant item didn't come up until well after midnight, when members of the Santa Monica City Council were talked-out, bleary-eyed and perhaps a bit cranky. Three businessmen behind an effort to bring a new restaurant and bar to the downtown area, just a few steps from the popular Third Street Promenade, were extolling the merits of their new venture--a national chain's first foray into Los Angeles County. All around the council chairs, eyebrows rose.

The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.22% this week, the lowest level in 32 years of record keeping, Freddie Mac said. This week's rate surpassed the previous low of 6.31% set last week. The average interest rate on 15-year mortgages, a popular option for refinancing, fell to 5.63% this week, the lowest level since Freddie Mac began tracking these rates in August 1991. Last week's rate was 5.69%.

A former Hooters restaurant general manager was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for secretly videotaping job applicants changing. Juan Martin Aponte, 32, of Arcadia had pleaded no contest to five felony charges for which he faced 19 years in prison. Police seized Aponte's office computer and found 180 digital recordings of women undressing as they sought jobs at a future restaurant, authorities said.

Former Hooters restaurant manager Juan Martin Aponte pleaded no contest Monday to five felony charges that he surreptitiously videotaped job applicants as they changed into waitress costumes. Aponte, who was fired, is expected to be sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea bargain. Police seized Aponte's office computer in February and found 180 digital recordings of women undressing as they sought jobs at a new restaurant in West Covina, authorities said.

Prosecutors charged the former general manager of a yet-to-open Hooters restaurant Tuesday with secretly recording job applicants as they tried on waitress outfits, according to the district attorney's office. Juan Martin Aponte faces 57 criminal counts and could be sentenced to state prison for 19 years if convicted. Prosecutors contend that he digitally recorded 14 women.

Prosecutors charged the former general manager of a yet-to-open Hooters restaurant Tuesday with secretly recording job applicants as they tried on waitress outfits, according to the district attorney's office. Juan Martin Aponte faces 57 criminal counts and could be sentenced to state prison for 19 years if convicted. Prosecutors contend that he digitally recorded 14 women.

AIRLINES * A group headed by the owner of the Hooters restaurant chain offered to buy some of the assets of Vanguard Airlines Inc. Hooters Air, led by Hooters of America Inc. owner and Chairman Robert H. Brooks, hopes to establish a new commercial airline based in Kansas City, Mo.

The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.22% this week, the lowest level in 32 years of record keeping, Freddie Mac said. This week's rate surpassed the previous low of 6.31% set last week. The average interest rate on 15-year mortgages, a popular option for refinancing, fell to 5.63% this week, the lowest level since Freddie Mac began tracking these rates in August 1991. Last week's rate was 5.69%.

I would like to hear from readers--particularly women--about a little debate that's been going on in Santa Monica, a town that has such a bond with women, it's even named after one. An actual debate was held Saturday morning at a Santa Monica restaurant, which is exactly what this entire situation is about--a Santa Monica restaurant. To be specific, Hooters.

The audience was, interestingly, not that rapt. Only a handful of rubberneckers showed up. Theoretically, the grand opening--"produced like a TV show," the owner boasted--should have been prime locust bait. All the requisite elements--food, booze, celebrities and buxom women--were involved. Maybe the celebrities weren't famous enough. "Hey, Lou," a newsie droned desultorily as the most familiar face--the guy who used to play the Incredible Hulk--waved.

The restaurant item didn't come up until well after midnight, when members of the Santa Monica City Council were talked-out, bleary-eyed and perhaps a bit cranky. Three businessmen behind an effort to bring a new restaurant and bar to the downtown area, just a few steps from the popular Third Street Promenade, were extolling the merits of their new venture--a national chain's first foray into Los Angeles County. All around the council chairs, eyebrows rose.

The audience was, interestingly, not that rapt. Only a handful of rubberneckers showed up. Theoretically, the grand opening--"produced like a TV show," the owner boasted--should have been prime locust bait. All the requisite elements--food, booze, celebrities and buxom women--were involved. Maybe the celebrities weren't famous enough. "Hey, Lou," a newsie droned desultorily as the most familiar face--the guy who used to play the Incredible Hulk--waved.

The Hooters restaurant on the Balboa Peninsula has won Planning Commission approval to offer patio service, but not without concessions to some neighboring residents who complained about excessive noise. Hooters, an eatery known for its scantily clad waitresses and raucous environment, opened on Feb. 23 under permits previously issued to the Red Onion restaurant that preceded it and did not need Planning Commission review.

From all the lofty citations of legal precedents and warnings of dire consequences, the issue could have been a death penalty case or a major corporate merger. But instead, the briefing at the National Press Club and outdoor rally Wednesday was much more gut-level: Should the Hooters chain be allowed to staff its restaurants solely with buxom waitresses in skimpy tank tops or should it have to hire men too.

The Hooters restaurant on the Balboa Peninsula has won Planning Commission approval to offer patio service, but not without concessions to some neighboring residents who complained about excessive noise. Hooters, an eatery known for its scantily clad waitresses and raucous environment, opened on Feb. 23 under permits previously issued to the Red Onion restaurant that preceded it and did not need Planning Commission review.